Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Export Licence Applications

Thursday 3 March 2022 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Export Control Joint Unit administered nearly 16,000 standard individual export licences in 2020.
  • It completed 62% within 20 working days against a target of 70%, and 85% within 60 working days against a target of 99%.
  • Efforts are underway to modernise and streamline the application process for efficiency and minimising red tape.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Sarah Green Lib Dem Chesham and Amersham
Business & Trade
Context

The application process for export licences is criticized for being slow and inefficient. A local toy business reports spending significantly more time on paperwork, and a survey shows 58% of businesses in Buckinghamshire have experienced increased costs due to red tape.

Question

What steps she is taking to improve the application process for export licences. The current process is slow and inefficient; a local toy business spends much more time on paperwork now than before. A recent survey found that 58% of businesses in Buckinghamshire have seen increased costs due to red tape.

Answer from Anne-Marie Trevelyan

The Export Control Joint Unit administered nearly 16,000 standard individual export licences in 2020. It completed 62% within 20 working days (target: 70%) and 85% within 60 working days (target: 99%). Modernising and streamlining the application process is underway to reduce red tape and improve efficiency.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific proactive steps not detailed, only general mention of modernisation efforts

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Q2 Sarah Green Lib Dem Chesham and Amersham
Business & Trade
Context

The export licence application process is criticised for inefficiency, with businesses spending excessive time on paperwork. A local toy business reported increased administrative burdens, and a survey revealed 58% of firms in Buckinghamshire faced higher costs due to bureaucratic requirements.

Question

Trying to export goods is currently a slow and inefficient process; one local toy business has reported significantly more time spent on paperwork than before. A recent survey showed that 58% of businesses in Buckinghamshire have seen cost increases due to red tape. What proactive, practical steps are the Government taking to help all sizes of businesses export?

Answer from Anne-Marie Trevelyan

In 2020, the ECJU administered nearly 16,000 standard individual export licences. It completed 62% within 20 working days against a target of 70%, and 85% within 60 working days against a target of 99%. Efforts are underway to modernise and streamline the application process for efficiency and minimal red tape.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific proactive steps not detailed, only general mention of modernisation efforts

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)